Biosurfactants: An Overview of Their Properties, Production, and Application in Mineral Flotation

Carolina Rossini Simões, Matheus Willian Pereira da Silva, Rodrigo Fernandes Magalhães de Souza (), Ronald Roja Hacha, Antônio Gutierrez Merma, Maurício Leonardo Torem and Flávia Paulucci Cianga Silvas
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Carolina Rossini Simões: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 22453-900, RJ, Brazil
Matheus Willian Pereira da Silva: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 22453-900, RJ, Brazil
Rodrigo Fernandes Magalhães de Souza: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 22453-900, RJ, Brazil
Ronald Roja Hacha: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 22453-900, RJ, Brazil
Antônio Gutierrez Merma: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 22453-900, RJ, Brazil
Maurício Leonardo Torem: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 22453-900, RJ, Brazil
Flávia Paulucci Cianga Silvas: Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Ouro Preto 35402-206, MG, Brazil

Resources, 2024, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-23

Abstract: The quest for sustainable mining processes has directed research towards environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional beneficiation practices, with biosurfactants emerging as a viable option due to their lower environmental impact. This study reviews the application of biosurfactants as bioreagents in mineral flotation, exploring their production, their mechanisms of action, and the sustainability benefits they offer. Methods include a decade-long text mining analysis of relevant literature, utilizing software tools like Zotero on platforms like Web of Science to extract and analyze data. The results underscore the growing interest in biosurfactants over the last ten years, highlighting their increasing relevance in industrial applications such as mineral flotation, where they replace synthetic surfactants. Particularly, biosurfactants have shown effectiveness in enhancing the froth flotation process, leading to more efficient mineral recovery while mitigating environmental harm. In conclusion, the adoption of biosurfactants in mineral processing not only aligns with sustainability goals but also demonstrates potential improvements in operational efficiency, offering a dual benefit of environmental protection and enhanced resource recovery.

Keywords: biotechnology; biomining; surfactants; sustainable minerals; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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